- Although researchers still don’t know the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, they do know that genetic factors play a role.
- Much recent research has focused on genetic variations and their role in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have discovered a new genetic variant that may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, reducing the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease in humans by up to 71%.
Researchers still don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that affects human health.
However, they do know that genetics play a role, particularly in some
Searching for and studying the genetic variants underlying Alzheimer’s disease is currently a major area of research.For example, scientists have discovered that genetic mutations
and
Now, scientists at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have discovered a previously unknown genetic variant that may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, reducing a person’s chance of developing the disease by up to 71 percent. .
The research was recently published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.
In this study, the researchers focused on a variant of the gene that expresses
Fibronectin is also present in
Previous research has shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers believe that people with mutations in the fibronectin gene may be protected against Alzheimer’s disease because it helps prevent the buildup of excess fibronectin in the blood-brain barrier.
“These results lead us to think that therapies that target fibronectin and mimic protective variants could provide a powerful defense in humans,” said study co-lead author Richard Mayeux, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology and professor of neurology and psychiatry. in Epidemiology from Columbia University, stated in the press release.
we may need to start
Researchers further found that protective fibronectin gene variants occur in people who never develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, despite inheriting
Scientists analyzed genetic data from hundreds of people over 70 who also carried the gene Apolipoprotein E4 genetic mutation. Study participants came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and some did have Alzheimer’s disease.
After combining their findings with those of replicated studies conducted at Stanford University and the University of Washington, the researchers found that a fibronectin gene variant reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 71 percent in people who carry the gene. Apolipoprotein E4 genetic mutation.
In the same press release cited above, Dr. Caghan Kizil, associate professor of neuroscience at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and co-lead of the study, explained:
Alzheimer’s disease may begin with amyloid deposits in the brain, but the disease’s manifestations are the result of changes after the deposits appear. Our results suggest that some of these changes occur in the brain’s vasculature, and we may be able to develop novel therapies that mimic the protective effects of genes to prevent or treat the disease.
There are significant differences in fibronectin levels in the blood-brain barrier between cognitively healthy people and Alzheimer’s patients, independent of their health status. Apolipoprotein E4 status, Kizil added.
He suggested that any drug that reduces excess fibronectin should provide some protection, and drugs that do this could be an important step in the fight against this debilitating disease.
After reviewing this After research, she told us Medical News Today She is very excited about the research and its potential.
Sullivan told us that this study provides strong evidence that fibronectin variants may be new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease.
She noted that while we do now have FDA-approved disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, namely Lecanemab (Leqembi), they are nowhere near as powerful as we need.
We need a drug to intervene in the earliest stages of amyloid accumulation, and I hope they have that insight.It’s exciting to think about the protective role of this gene [have] Sullivant said it has been shown to be effective in two animal models and a population-wide human study.
She added that we need to study people with a genetic variant of fibronectin in more detail and understand how this genetic variant manifests phenotypically.
motor neurons Also spoke about the study with Manisha Parulekar, MD, chief of geriatrics and co-director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center and associate professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey.
Palulekar commented that any new discovery that might reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s disease is very exciting and encouraging.
While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear, several factors are believed to contribute to its development, including the accumulation of amyloid plaques and
apolipoprotein4 Linked to increased Alzheimer’s risk, but [the] The exact mechanism why people with this gene do not develop Alzheimer’s disease is not yet known, Palulekar said.
What we do know, she added, is that the blood-brain barrier plays a vital role in maintaining brain health and function.
This study suggests possible mechanisms of blood-brain barrier disruption and ways to prevent or correct this disruption. What’s exciting is that we are investigating multiple pathways into the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Palulekar tells us that confirmation and application of these findings will help in the search for potential treatments or preventions of this debilitating disease.
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